No Disney Magic For Toronto

Toronto FC fell 1-0 to Orlando City in the Bronze Medal Match tonight in Orlando at the Walt Disney World Pro Soccer Classic. Toronto maintained possession throughout the second half and created a number of chances on goal but were unable to capitalize. Orlando grabbed a late goal in the 76th minute by player-coach Ian Fuller to take the lead and third place in the tournament.

Milos Kocic earned the start in goal for Toronto and trialists Chris Hunter, Mikael Yourassowsky, Ivo de Heus, Nick Soolsma, Jamal Gay, and Javier Martina were in the starting 11 along with Dan Gargan, Adrian Cann, Matt Stinson and captain Dwayne De Rosario.

Toronto maintained possession in the opening minutes of the match but it was Orlando who had the first attempt on goal in the sixth minute of the game when Yordanny Alvarez forced Kocic into a diving save. Toronto conceded a corner but it would not amount to anything for Orlando.

[inline_node:6019]Toronto began to press forward creating a number of opportunities but were unable to finish. In the 12th minute Martina sent in a through ball to De Rosario that was cleared. Minutes later De Rosario again was on the offensive as his cross into the box was headed just wide by Gay, a Trinidad and Tobago international.

Orlando forced a turnover in Toronto’s half and had a clear path on goal only to be followed by De Rosario. The captain conceded a free kick and picked up a yellow card for his challenge at the 20th minute. Lewis Neal’s free kick found its way over the wall and forced Kocic into another diving save for Toronto.

Reds maintained their pressure and had a couple of attempts on goal but neither threatened Orlando goalkeeper Miguel Gallardo, who didn't have much to do through the first 30 minutes.

Orlando countered later and Jamie Watson’s shot was again saved by Kocic, but the rebound was put in by Orlando, however the linesman had his flag up for an offside and the goal was disallowed. Both teams had attempts on goal in the closing minutes but neither could break the deadlock keeping it scoreless after the first half.

Toronto made five changes to start the second half as Nick La Brocca, Jacob Peterson, Ashtone Morgan, Demitrius Omphroy, and Gianluca Zavarise made their way into the action. Toronto had much better possession of the ball and attempts on goal in the second half as they were the more dangerous side for most of the half.

A deflection off an Orlando defender almost resulted in the game’s first goal for Toronto as De Rosario sent a ball into the box that was grabbed by Orlando goalkeeper Sean Kelley, who replaced Gallardo at the break. Orlando picked up their first yellow card of the game in the 58th minute when Luke Boden was called for a poor challenge.

Toronto picked up another caution at the 67th minute when Dan Gargan was handed a yellow for his tackle on Jose Burciaga. Following the foul Toronto made two substitutions as Academy player Keith Makubuya and forward Maicon Santos made way for Martina and De Rosario. LaBrocca claimed the captain’s armband following the substitution.

Both sides exchanged weak attempts on goal twenty minutes from full time. Orlando made a substitution in the 72nd minute when Fuller came on for Justin Fojo.

Four minutes into his runout, Fuller made his mark getting past a diving Dan Gargan and Milos Kocic to maintain possession and fire a sliding shot that found its way into the Toronto goal to give Orlando the 1-0 lead.

Toronto made a number of runs forward in the closing minutes but could not make them count as Orlando hung on to preserve the lead and earn the Bronze medal.